14th Women Are Sacred Conference

Women are Sacred (WAS) is one of the earliest and largest gatherings of tribal domestic violence programs, advocates, survivors, tribal community members and tribal leadership, law enforcement and tribal court personnel dedicated to ending violence against Indian women and children. WAS provides tremendous training opportunities by established and emerging Indigenous leaders and experts in the movement to end the violence. WAS consists of trainings, presentations, workshops and keynote addresses on various topics focused on increasing the capacity of tribal nations, tribal domestic violence programs and tribal community-based programs to provide culturally appropriate services including intervention and prevention strategies. We expect over 400 participants for this event.

This year's theme "Carrying Our Medicine and Strengthening Our Vision to End the Violence," was approved by the NIWRC and co-sponsors for this outstanding event. Carrying our medicine is how we have survived and continue to survive as Indigenous people. It is how we heal our spirit, our body and the land we walk on. It is using traditional knowledge, skills and practices to enhance the health and well-being of ourselves, our families, our communities and our nations. The Women Are Sacred Conference 2020 represents the strength and resilience of Indigenous people and the tools and knowledge we have to make a difference. It’s about our shared vision for the future in ending the violence.

Adequate self-care is vital to sustaining long-lasting careers as a victim advocates. In NRCDV's upcoming webinar, Vanessa Timmons will discuss strategies for managing work related stress and addressing the emotional and physical toll of compassion fatigue.

The separate identities of mother and advocate are naturally intertwined, but have never been as integrated for mother advocates then at this very moment. This Mother’s Day, NRCDV honors the resilience of mother advocates in the movement to end domestic violence.